Five Games That Will Define The Chargers’ 2026 Season 

As the Los Angeles Chargers‘ 2026 schedule is now in place, let’s take a look at which matchups could be the most critical for them this season: 

1. Week 12: Chargers vs Patriots 

The Chargers lost a winnable game against the Patriots last season, where Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was gaining yards with his legs, the Patriots’ secondary was giving the Chargers’ receiving corps trouble, and the Chargers’ offensive line just wasn’t giving quarterback Justin Herbert a chance.

This offseason, the Chargers heavily invested in the offensive line to make sure they have some insurance policies in place, while left tackle Rashawn Slater and right tackle Joe Alt will *fingers crossed* be healthy enough to keep Herbert upright.

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And though they lost a player like edge Odafe Oweh, who was a monster during that game with three sacks, they did add one in first-round draft pick Akheem Mesidor.

The Chargers will have to contend with running backs TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson, plus defensive pieces like cornerback Christian Gonzalez and linebacker Robert Spillane. But if they’re able to protect Herbert more and get the ball into the hands of his playmakers, and the defense stays dominant, they should do much better in this next meetup. 

2. Week 9: Chargers vs Texans 

The Chargers can’t seem to win against the Texans and haven’t since Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud entered the league. Last year’s game was particularly heartbreaking as they got within a few points of a victory after some late touchdowns and still couldn’t close.

The Chargers have to really clamp down on the explosive plays in this next game, clean up the interceptions, and just make it harder for some of these Texans’ defensive powerhouses, like defensive ends Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr., along with linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, to get to Herbert.

The Chargers can hopefully break through, especially if their whole offensive line is healthy. 

3. Week 6 and Week 17: Chargers vs Chiefs 

Beating the Chiefs twice in one year, especially during a season opener in Brazil, was certainly a bright spot for the 2025 Chargers’ season. Now, if only they can keep that streak up.

Though the Chiefs traded away cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Rams, they really added to the defense during the draft in picking up players like cornerback Mansoor Delane at sixth, as well as free agency, by adding defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga from the Patriots.

Another head-turning addition was running back Kenneth Walker III from the Seahawks, which could turn a Chiefs ground game that ranked 25th in rushing offense according to Fox Sports, into a true threat.

The Chargers will have to fight just as hard this year to beat them as last, especially if Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is well enough by the time they face off. But if all three phases can execute and Herbert can play like he did last year, the Chargers may be able to come out on top again for both games. 

4. Week 4: Chargers vs Seahawks  

The Chargers managed to squeak out a win in overtime against the defending Super Bowl Champion Eagles last season. Can they do it against the Seahawks? It’ll be a battle, that’s for sure.

According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon ranked first out of 114 cornerbacks for defense (89.9%) and second in coverage (84.6%) and run defense (86.7%). Seahawks cornerback Sam Darold had his second 4,000-plus passing yard season, while his favorite target, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, had a hell of a year with regular season career highs in receiving yards (1,793), receiving touchdowns (10), and yards after catch (529).

Though they lost Walker to the Chiefs and safety Coby Bryant to the Bears, they’ve retained much of last year’s talent. The Chargers will need a lot of turnovers, similar to their game against the Eagles, to give themselves more of a chance. If the Chargers can beat the Seahawks, it’ll prove that they should be included in the Super Bowl conversation. 

5. Week 10: Chargers vs Ravens

Former defensive coordinator, now head coach of the Ravens, Jesse Minter, will be meeting the Chargers for the first time since he left LA. The amount of weapons the Ravens have is endless, from quarterback Lamar Jackson to running back Derrick Henry.

This game will be the ultimate test as to whether the Chargers can survive and thrive without Minter commanding a key part of their team. 

Honorable Mention: Week 16: Chargers vs Miami Dolphins

This game will mark the first time that offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel faces off against his old team. The Chargers will also be going up against former teammate offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer. The Dolphins appear to be in a rebuild mode, so it’ll be interesting to see how quarterback Malik Willis performs against the defense, as he only ever played a few snaps against the Chargers in 2022.

Dolphins running back De’Von Achane is coming off his best season, so the run defense will need to be on point. It’ll be really satisfying if McDaniel’s offense is able to put a beating on the team that let him go.